Main Concerns

Travel & Terrain Advice

Very dangerous avalanche conditions will continue to persist and travel in avalanche terrain is not recommended.

Avalanche Summary

Numerous loose dry avalanche from skier traffic up to size 1.5 has been reported at TL on Mount Washington.

Avalanche Problems

Persistent Slab

Down 20 to 40 centimeters facets can be found sitting on top of a very dense melt freeze crust. This avalanche problem is widespread can be found on all aspects and elevations and will be reactive to light triggers such a skiers. This problem is likely to produce avalanches to size two and may be possible to size three.

Wind Slab

Strong winds and available snow will encourage the development of these avalanche problems and will be found on predominately northerly aspects but can be found in isolated protected areas on all aspects. The elevations to find these avalanche problems will be In the alpine and at treeline. Wind slabs will initially be touchy to light triggers and may after time become less reactive as they begin to settle and bond. If triggered this avalanche problem will produce avalanches to size two.

Snowpack Summary

The upper surface of the snow pack is variable and includes, loose dry snow , areas scoured to crust and very dense wind pressed snow. The most concerning aspect to the current snow pack is that a layer of facets exists above a well developed and widespread melt freeze crust that is currently buried down between 20 and 40 cm. This highly reactive crust will gain further destructive potential with the incoming storm snowfall amounts and increased wind. Below the crust a well settled and dense coastal snow-pack exists.

Snowpack Details

Surface

New low density snow and a variety of surfaces from hard slab to exposed crust

Upper

Down between 15 and 45 centimeter a weak layer of facets on a melt freeze crust and is found at all elevations and aspects

Mid

Well settled

Lower

Well settled

Past Weather

Light snowfall and cool temperatures continued over the past forecast periods. A few daytime highs of above zero occurred , with winds being generally light out of the North east.